Federal Agency Overseeing Truck Safety Continues to Operate – For Now

By Ross Jurewitz on October 7, 2013

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is continuing to enforce commercial truck and bus safety regulations despite the recent government shutdown, according to a recent report in Landline Magazine.

The agency, like many others, has seen some “non-essential” services and functions temporarily shuttered as employees were furloughed due to the shutdown that began October 1. However, the agency’s responsibilities for overseeing trucking safety and bus safety on U.S. roads were considered “essential” duties, meaning that these functions are still being carried out – at least for the short term.

Many other federal agencies that oversee safety have not fared as well through the shutdown. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), for instance, is enforcing many regulations governing passenger vehicle safety, but is unable to investigate reports of hidden defects or post new recalls during the shutdown. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is similarly halting services, making the protection of worker safety in many states more difficult.

The longer the shutdown lasts, the more difficult it will become to keep any government agency running. This means that even though the NHTSA and the FMCSA are responding to safety issues on U.S. roads now, they may not be able to do so if the shutdown continues into the long term.

At Jurewitz Law Group, our experienced San Diego truck accident attorneys can help you determine exactly what happened in a crash and seek the compensation you deserve from any and all parties who bear the responsibility for your injuries. To learn more, call our office today at (619) 233-5020 for a free and confidential case evaluation.

Ross Jurewitz

Ross Jurewitz is the founder and managing lawyer of the Jurewitz Law Group, a San Diego personal injury attorney law firm. These San Diego injury accident lawyers specialize in helping people seriously injured in a variety of accidents throughout San Diego County and California.

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